Stopping mechanism for weft replenishing looms



5, 9 c. DARWIN 2,25 ,9

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR WEF'I REPLENISHING LOOMS I Filed 0011.6, 1940 2 Shee ts-Sheei 1 I I [NVENTOR' 'YCLIF'F'OR o DARWIN ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1941 QDARWIN 2,263,983

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Oct. 3, 1940' INVENTOR CLIFFORD DARWIN gig/7 ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 25, 1 941 STOPPING MECHANISM FOR WEFT REPLEN- ISHING LOOMS Clifford Darwin, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 3, 1940, Serial No, 359,568

14 Claims.

This invention relates to weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the inven-.

tion to provide means for stopping the loom if the shuttle is not properly placed to receive the incoming bobbin on a transferring beat of the loom.

Weft replenishing looms ordinarily employ a magazine to provide a supply of reserve bobbins which are moved one by one under a transferrer arm to be inserted into the depleted shuttle. The shuttle is provided with spring jaws or holding clips which retain the rings on the bobbin butts. If for any reason the shuttle is not properly placed under the magazine the reserve bobbin will be moved downwardly by the transferrer arm along a path at one side of the jaws and will not be held properly in the shuttle. Under these conditions the depleted bobbin may be incompletely discharged from the shuttle or the reserve bobbin may assume a diagonal position with one end high enough to damage the magazine or the shuttle when it is picked.

So-called shuttle feelers have heretofore been .used to prevent a transfer if the shuttle is improperly placed but such mechanisms do not ordinarily operate satisfactorily unless the shuttle is widely misplaced. It is an important-object of my present invention to provide means for stop- :ping the loom when a shuttle is improperly placed regardless of whether a transfer has been re voked by wide misplacement of the shuttle or has taken place because of a slight misplacement.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide an electric switch on the shuttle feeler which is normally open and will move into the path of the shuttle when a replenishing operation of the loom is called. If the shuttle is properly placed the switch remains open, but if the shuttle -is misplaced beyond the limits of safe transfer the switch will be closed and a solenoid energized to move a stopping dagger on the loom shipping mechanism into the path of a knock-01f .bunter on the lay. In one application of my invention the switch is closed when the advancing lay is approximately one and one-half inches behind front center. There is adequate time in the remaining forward beat of the lay for energization of the solenoid and movement of the dagger to knock-off position so that a stopping impulse can-be given during the last partof the forward stroke of the lay. By having the loom brake set sufficiently close the loom can be stopped just before the lay reaches top center or picking position, and should either of the bobbins involved in the transferring operation be improperly placed no damage will be done, since picking will have been prevented.

Inasmuch as the electric switch is light in Weight and can .be operated by a very small force I am enabled to locate the shuttle feeler on which the switch is mounted in a position in front of that heretofore necessary. The, practical advan.- tage of so locatin the shuttle feeler is that the shuttle has more time in the forward swe p f the lay to reach its shuttle box.- In certain former constructions wher he shut le fieeler projec ed rea ward y a con id r le dista ce into he path of t shut le it was necessa y o set th pick n at the pp sit nd of the loom in suc a Way as t driv t sh tt w th an excessive f rce. so that it could pass be ond the huttle feeler bef a n h latte on its fo ward mo ion- The bobbins of weft replenishing looms ordin r ly h three sp e r s w ich ar held by the spring jaws of the shuttle. Although it is desirable to have all three of the springs held by the jaws, a satisfactory transfer can be effected on certain conditions if only two of the rings are held. A shuttle can therefore be misplaced by an amount equal to the distance between adjacent rings and still effect an adequate transfer. ,It is afurt-her object of my present invention to mount the electric switch on that side of the shuttle feeler opposite the boxed shuttle and make the shuttle feeler of a thickness not substantially greater than thespace which separates the rings.

In this way provision is made for a slight misplacement of the shuttle within a range of toler- .ance which will permit adequate transfer.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a con venient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is an end view of .a loom equipped with my invention, certain parts being in section,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the weft replenishing mechanism as viewed from .the center of the loom, the'lay'being in section, V V

Fig. -3 is a, front elevationlookingin the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2 of the switch resetting mechanism,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 2 certain partsbeing in section,

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation taken in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. Lcertain-parts being in section,

Fig. 6 is a-plan View in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 1,

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic-viewshowingthe elecserve stacks of bobbins.

tric circuit which is controlled by my invention,

Fig. 8 is a detailed vertical section on line 8-8, Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic operating view showing parts of the stopping mechanism in the position they assume when the loom is stopped.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a loom frame having a lay L mounted on lay swords ll, one of which is shown in Fig. l. The lay moves about the usual rocker shaft I2 at the bottom of the loom and is. reciprocated backwardly and forwardly bymeans of connectors one of which is shown at IS. The lay has a shuttle box B which receives the shuttle S and is provided with a slot 14 for the outgoing bobbin the path of which is directed forwardly by. a bobbin chute on the lay. Projecting forward- 1y from the lay is a transfer bunter l6.

The weft replenishing mechanism comprises a magazine M having in the present instance four guideways for distinctively colored reserve wefts. Forming part of the magazine is a transferrer arm 2| pivoted as at 22 to the magazine and having. pivoted thereto a latch holder 23. The latter has secured thereto and projecting rearwardly therefrom a' transfer latch 24 which is normally in low position out of the path of the bunter 16. The transferrer arm has a heel 25 which acts to transfer a reserve bobbin designated at R into the shuttle 5 when the lay approaches front center. The bobbin R may be held in transfer position by supports 26.

The magazine may be of the type shown generally in prior Patent No. 1,030,740 and comprises vertical slides 30, one for each of the re- When a transfer is called by the weft detecting mechanism not shown the slide corresponding to the indicating shuttle is first raised and then later lowered to release a reserve bobbin from the associated stack latch a shuttlefeeler 35 pivoted at 36 to the magazine is lowered from its dotted to the full line position shown in Fig. 2, this lowering being accomplished by means of a rod 31 which acts in timed relation with rod 32.

Operation of the loom is controlled by shipper mechanism including a shipper handle 40 fastened to a shipper shaft 4| extending across the loom, and a brake handle 42 which turns freely on shaft 41. The brake handle has a depending arm 43 provided with a stud 44 which enters a slot 45 of a short lever 46 movable about a fixed stud 41 on the loom frame: Pivoted to lever 46 is a link 48 connected to a brake lever When lever 46 is down in the dotted line position of Fig. 1 the brake not shown is on to hold the loom from operating. A spring 50 is connected to link 48 and slot 45 has a notch 5| to receive stud 44. When the brake lever 42 is pulled forwardly or to the left to the full line position of Fig. 1, lever 46 and link 48 move to raise brakelever 49, thereby freeing theloom, and stud 44 enters notch 51 to hold the brake lever yieldingly in running position. Spring 50 is under tension at this time and helps to hold stud 44 yieldingly in the notch,

An upright lever 53 pivoted to the loom frame at 54 has a cam face 55 formed with a notch 56 to receive a stud 51 on the shipper handle 40. A rod 58 pivoted to lever 53 extends rearwardly to control the driving mechanism not shown. A tension spring 59 tends to move the lever 53 rearwardly, or to the right, Fig. 1, to disconnect the driving connections of the loom, and serves also to hold stud 51 in notch 56 during running of the loom. A screw 60 adjustably mounted on the shipper handle is positioned for engagement with a lug 61 on the brake handle to require the shipper handle to move to stopping position, dotted lines Fig. 1, whenever the brake handle moves to apply the brake, also dotted lines, Fig. 1.

In order to start loom operation the levers 40 and 42 will be moved from the dotted to the full line position in Fig. 1, the shipper lever 40 setting the clutch not shown in driving position and the brake handle 42 releasing the brake not shown.- Under these conditions the lay will be reciprocated back and forth and other mechanisms of the loom not shown will perform their normal functions. It is thought sufficient for purposes of the present invention to state that when the handles 40 and 42 are in the full line position shown in Fig. l the loom is in operation, but when the handles are moved to the dotted position 01 that figure the loom will be stopped.

During normal operation the shuttle will eventually become depleted and the magazine will be set for a transferring operation by lifting of the latch 24 into the path of the bunter I6 while the lay is in a rearward position and by depression of the shuttle feeler 35 from the dotted line to the full line position in Fig. 2. The shuttle enters the shuttle box as the lay is advancing and should be properly positioned to receive the in coming bobbin, but it is not always completely boxed. If the shuttle is in the position in dotted lines in Fig. 4 it is too widely misplacedfor transfer and as the lay moves forwardly the shuttle will engage the rear'curved surface 63 of the shuttle feeler to raise the latter, thereby elevating rod 31 which through well-known mechanism will depress rod 32 and allow the latch 24 tofall out of the path of the bunter Hi to prevent transfer. If, on the otherhand, the shuttle should be properly positioned as indicated in full lines in Fig. 4 the shuttle feeler will'remain down long enough to permit engagement of the bunter 16 with the latch 24 to effect transfer of the reserve bobbin into the shuttle. Continued forward motion of the 'lay, however, will cause engagement between the box back 64 and the shuttle feeler to raise the latter for the purpose of resetting the magazine. For further reference to the structure and operation of the parts of the mechanism thus far described reference may be had to the following patents: Nos. 1,030,748

and 2,055,229.

As heretofore constructed the connections between the shuttle feeler and the latch 24 have been insufficient to prevent a transfer if "the shuttle is only slightly misplaced, and'in an attempt to correct this condition the shuttle feeler is set rearwardly with respect to the front position of the lay a sufficient distance'to re-. quire a strong pick of the shuttle toward the magazine which not only subjects the picking mechanism to unnecessary wear but also .is likely'to cause sufiicient rebounding of the shut-: tle to leave thelatter in wrong position for transfer. It is the generalpurpose of my pres;-

' apes-cos ent invention to provide for stopping the loom should the shuttle be misplaced a slight amount sufiicient to interfere with proper transfer but insufficient to revoke transfer through the shuttle feeler when the picking mechanism at the opposite end of the loom is set for proper picking operation.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide means preferably carried by the shuttle feeler to be operated by a slightly misplaced shuttle to effect loom stoppage for the purpose of preventing picking immediately after the normal time of transfer should the mechanical shuttle feeler fail to revoke the replenishing operation. Under these conditions transfer will occur but subsequent picking will be prevented. An electric-switch I9 is pivoted as at H to the shuttle feeler 35 and is restrained as to its angular'motion with respect to the shuttle feeler by a pin 12 on the shuttle feeler projecting through an opening 13 in the switch. The lower end of the switch is provided with a curved surface 14 which conforms more or less in outline to the shape of the adjacent part of the surface 63. The shuttle feeler is provided with a block of insulating material 15 on which is mounted a switch prong 16 having the forward end thereof positioned in the path of the rear arm I! of the switch.

A resetting rod 89 is secured as at 8| to the magazine frame projectsdownwardly and is offset as at 82 to overhang a part of the switch, as suggested in Fig. 3. When the shuttle feeler is in its normal raised position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the rod 80 presses downwardly on the forward end of the switch to move the arm 11 away from the prong 76. Under normal conditions, therefore, there is no contact between the switch and the prong. A small spring 18 serves as a friction device to hold the switch in any position to which it may be moved with respect to the shuttle feeler 35. When the shuttle feeler starts down from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, the switch will be open and will remain open with the lower end thereof projecting below and behind the surface 63 on the shuttle feeler. As indicated in Fig. 3 the switch is preferably on that side of the shuttle feeler 35 opposite the magazine and boxed shuttle.

The arm 43 of the brake handle 49 is provided with aknock-ofi dagger 85 having a rearwardly facing notch 86. The dagger is mounted for pivotal motion around the stud 44 and is normally held in raised position by a tension spring 81 the upper end of which is fixed with respect to the loom as at 88, while the lower end thereof is attached to the latch. A bunter 99 is secured as at 9| to the bobbin chute and swings backwardly and forwardly with the lay. The latch .85 is normally held by the spring 8! in a position above the path of the bunter 99. Connected to the hunter 99 is a rod 92 which extends downwardly to have contact with the core 93 of a solenoid 94 fixed to the frame as by a stand 95. The latter is capable of limited vertical motion by means of the bolts 99 and slot 97, and a stop 99 formed as part of the stand 95 limits upward motion of the core 93, as by engagement with the pivot pin 99, see Fig. 5, by which the rod is connected to the core 93.

The electrical connections between the switch andthe solenoid are set forth in Fig. 7, where it will be seen that the switch 19 is connected by means of wire I99 to one-side of the solenoid '94, while the other side of the solenoid is connected by wire I 9l to a low voltage transformer 192. A third wire 193 connects the other side of the transformer to the prong 16.

In operation, the switch 1 9 is normally kept in open position and the shuttle feeler 35 is raised, hence spring 81 can lift the latch 85 out of the path of the bunter 99. Under these conditions the latch 85 is in its rear position due to the fact that the shipper handle has been pulled forwardly to cause loom operation. When a transfer is called the shuttle feeler will 'be lowered and when it assumes the down position shown in Fig. 1 the surface 14 of the switch 19 will extend beyond the outline of the surface 63 and into a position where it can be engaged by a misplaced shuttle. Should the shuttle be properly boxed it will move forwardly along a path at one side of the switch 19 and the latter'will therefore remain open and a transfer will take place in the usual manner. Continued forward motion of the lay will cause the box back 64 t0 raise the shuttle feeler as already described without contacting the switch 19.

The shuttle may not be placed properly for transfer, in which case it may be either slightly misplaced and unable to raise the shuttle feeler to prevent transfer, or it may be misplaced widely enough to raise the shuttle feeler and prevent transfer. If the shuttle be only slightly misplaced, it will engage the switch 19 as the lay advances and move the switch to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby establishing contact between the prong 19 and the switch arm ll. Current will thereupon flow through the circuit shown in Fig. 7 to energize the solenoid 94 the effect of which is to draw the core. 93 downwardly against the action of spring 81 and lower the latch 85 into the path of the bunter 99. As the lay continues to move engagement of the latch '95 with the hunter 99 will rock the brake handle from the full to the dotted line position in Fig. 1, thereby rocking the shipper handle to stopping position due to screw 99 and lug El, thus disconnecting the loomfrom its driving motor and at the same time applying the brake. This last operation occurs during advance of the lay, and if the shuttle has not been able to raise the shuttle. feeler because of its slight misplacement, transfer will occur before the loom stops. The brake will ordinarily be set to stop the loom before the lay reaches top center or picking position in its ensuing :backward motion.

It will therefore be seen that a very small displacement of the shuttle will operate to stop the loom, and even though the shuttle feeler is not able to prevent an improper transfer there will be no danger of picking a shuttle with an improperly located reserve bobbin therein.

When the shuttle is widely misplaced it will first close the switch to initiate loom stoppage as already described, and then raise the shuttle feeler to prevent transfer; The rod 89 will act to open the switch when the shuttle feeler is restored to its normal position by the misplaced shuttle. The interval between closing of the switch by the misplaced shuttle and its opening by the rod 89 is long enough, however, to permit sufficient energization of the solenoid to draw the latch '85 down into the path of the bunter 99. r

The front wall'of the shuttle will ordinarily be lower than the top part of the box back-fill though the latter is not effected by the box back due to the fact that the latter engages the shuttle feeler surface 63 at a point higher than the shuttle wall. Regardless of the condition of transfer, the lay will always move to front center position and will therefore raise the shuttle feeler and cause the rod 80 to break the contact between the prong l8 and the switch arm 1.1, hence there is no danger that the solenoid will remain energized after the loom has been stopped. As the circuit is broken the spring 81 is free to raise the latch 85. It is a characteristic of loom shipping mechanism, particularly the type shown in Fig. 1, that as soon as stud 44 is unseated from the notch the shipper handle will move to stopping position. When the loom is fully stopped, therefore, the latch 85 will be in a position forward of the bunter 90 even when the lay is on front center position, and under these conditions the latch 85 is held above the bunter so that the shipper handle can be pulled on without engagement of the latch 85 with the hunter 90.

When the brake handle arm 43 moves to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the pivot of latch 85 will move downwardly while the spring 81 holds the latch 85 up, therefore the rear end of the latch will be inclined upwardly as indicated in Fig. 9 and this is an additional reason why the shipper handle may be moved to running position after the loom has stopped without causing objectionable engagement between the latch 85 and the bunter 90.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 the electric switch is located on that side of the shuttle feeler opposite the boxed shuttle, the reason for this location being to permit a small amount of misplacement of the shuttle Without necessarily stopping the loom. The shuttle S to be replenished will ordinarily have bobbin holding spring clips H0 which engage the rings III on the head N2 of the bobbin H3. It is desirable that all three of the rings on the bobbin be held by the shuttle jaws, but it is possible to effect a satisfactory transfer if only two of the rings are held, and thi condition Will exist if the shuttle is not misplaced by a distance greater than the distance between adjacent bobbin rings. It s customary to set the shuttle feeler so that its right hand surface H5, see Fig. 4, which faces the shuttle will be close to the shuttle tip when the shuttle is properly boxed. By placing the switch on the opposite side of the shuttle feeler and making the latter of a. thickness not exceeding the distance between two adjacent rings on the bobbin head the shuttle can assume a position slightly to the right of that shown in full lines in Fig. 4 without closing the switch. Under these conditions a transfer will occur, since the mechanically operating shuttle feeler will be too slow to revoke the replenishing operation, but the incoming bobbin will be adequately supported by the shuttle clips and there is no necessity for stopping the loom. By locating the switch as described the shuttle can be replenished and loom operation continued if the misplacement of the shuttle is within a narrow range of tolerance the extent of which is determined by the distance between adjacent rings on the bobbin head. If the shuttleis misplaced by an amount exceeding this range the shuttle tip will be able to strike the switch and they loom will be stopped. With this somewhat greater displacement only one ring of th bobbin head would and will therefore act on the switch 10 even be held by the shuttle jaws, a condition which is not considered satisfactory for proper weaving. While therelationship described is a feature of the construction as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I do not wish necessarily to be limited to such a location of the switch relatively to the shuttle feeler and shuttle,

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means for stopping the loom should the shuttle be improperly placed for a correct transfer. It will also be seen that normal raising of the shuttle feeler due to forward motion of the lay results in opening the switch so that the solenoid is not subjected to continued ,energization during the period that the loom is fore providing sufficient time for the solenoid to effect loom stoppage even though transfer is mechanically revoked by the shuttle feeler. An advantage growing out of this relationship is the fact that the weavers attention is called to the improper picking from the opposite side of the loom which results in the faulty location of the shuttle. As a further feature, the movement of the shipper handle and the relation of the rod 92 to the latch and the connections of the latter are such that the shipper handlemay be pulled on after the loom has been stopped without danger of forcing the latch against the bunter. It will further be seen that the switch is on that side of the shuttle feeler opposite the boxed shuttle, thereby making provision for a slight misplacement of the shuttle throughout a rather narrow range within which adequate transfer can occur.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a shuttle to receive a reserve bobbin in a weft replenishing operation of the loom during a, forward motion of the lay, a carrier normally in nonoperative position and movable into operative position preparatory to a weft replenishing operation of the loom while the lay is moving forwardly, a normally open electric switch on the carrier and having a portion projecting from said carrier toward the path of the shuttle when said carrier is in operative position, said switch located to be out of engaging position with the shuttle during forward motion of the lay when the shuttle is properly boxed for a weft replenishing operation and located for engagement with the shuttle when the latter is improperly boxed for a proper weft replenishing operation, and electromagnetically controlled means to stop the loom when a shuttle projects far enough from the shuttle box to engage and close the switch.

2. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a shuttle to be replenished from a reserve bobbin magazine during a forward motion of thelay, the loom having a shuttle position detecting ae ae position, an electric switch normallyopen and mounted on said shuttle feeler and having a, portion projectin beyond the shuttle feeler toward the path of the shuttle when said feeler is in detecting position, said switch located to be out of engaging position with the shuttle during forward motion of the lay when the shuttle is properly boxed for a weft replenishin operation and located for engagement with the shuttle to be closed thereby when the shuttle is improperly boxed for a proper weft re-. plenishing operation, and electromagnetically controlled means to stop the loom when said switch is closed, a shuttle protruding from the shuttle box too far for a proper weft replenishing operation preventing a replenishing operation bymovement of the shuttle feeler and closing said switch to effect loom stoppage.

3. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a shuttle to be replenished from a reserve bobbin magaz n during a forward motion of the lay, the loom having a shuttle position detecting feeler movable from normal position out of the path of the shuttle to detecting position into the path of the shuttle preparatory to a weft replenishing operation of the loom, and a weft replenishing operation of the loom being prevented if the shuttle is widely misplaced and moves the shuttle feeler toward normal position stopping mechanism for the loom, an electromagnetically actuated controller for the stopping mechanism, an electric switch; normally open and mounted on the shuttle feeler and movable with the latter toward the path of the shuttle, a misplaced shuttle protruding too far from the shuttle box for proper transfer engaging and closing the switch during forward motion of the lay, and electrical means controlled by the switch to actuate the electromagnetic control to stop the loom, whereby a misplaced shuttle prevents a replenishing operation by movement of the shuttle feeler and also stops the loom.

i. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a shuttie to be replenished from a reserve bobbin magazine during forward motion of the lay, a shutt 1e position detecting feeler movable from normal position to detecting position preparatory to a weft replenishing operation of the loom, a normally open electric switch mounted on the shuttle feeler and movable with the latter to detecting position, a loom controlling handle normally in running position and movable to stopping position to stop the loom, means movin with the loom controlling handle normally in non-stopping position, 'a lay carried b nter normally clearing said means during forward motion of the lay, an electromagnetic controller for said means, and electric connections between the switch and the electromagnetic controller to energize the electro-magnetic controller when the switch is closed, a, shuttle whichprotrudes too far from the shuttle box fora proper replenishing operation closing the switch during forward motion of the lay to cause energization of the electromagnetic connormal position to detecting position prep rae to energize the latter when the switch is closed, a s ut e r t u in o ar from he shu tl trolier and the latter moving saidmeans into the path of the blinter carried by the lay to effect movement of the loom oontrollinghane dle toward stopping position during forward rno-J tion of the lay. f 5. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box Containing a shot? tie to, be replenished from a reserve bobbin magazine during forward motion of the lay, a shuttle position detecting feeler movable from tory to a weft replenishing foperation, of the loom, an electric' switch on the shuttle. feeler.

normally open and haying a portion thereof pro: jecting beyond the shuttle feeler towardthe path of the shuttle when said shuttle feeler s n det t n posi ion, .00m top n m c an sm! a el ctr ma n tic con rol r ai m chani m, an e ectric con e on i c n the switch and the electromagnetic controller box for a proper replenishingoperation' engag m and c o in the switch an he ectr m netic controller thereupon causing the loom stoppine mec ani m. to s h m mn a Weft pl n sh loo o e a in with a a h v a shutt e bo con ain n a. shu le to be replenished from a reserve bobbin magaz du o a d motio of he la s tposit e e n ee e mo e rom normal p s t o e e tin posi on pre rat ry to a w t r p en shin op ra ion of t .1 a 10011 co o n handle no ma l n nnin position and movable to stopping position to stop the loom, a dagger pivoted to the loom controlling handle, a hunter on the lay for engagementwith the dagger, means to hold said dagger normally, out of the path of the hunter as the layermoves' forwardly, an electric switchon the shuttle feeler normally open and having a portion thereof projecting beyond a shuttle feeler and toward the path of the shuttle when the shuttle vfeeler is in detecting position, an electromagnetic means electrically connected to the switch for energization when said switch is closed, and mecha-v nism operated by the electromagnetic means and connected to said da ger to move the latter into.

the pathof the hunter when the electromagnetic ns s n iz d, a shu le protrudin to fa v from the shuttle box for proper weft replenishing operation closing the switch during forward motion of the la to energize the electromagnetic means and the latter upon being energized moving the dagger into the path of the bunter, whereupon the latter acts during forward motion of the lay to move said dagger and cause movement of the loom controlling handle to stop-' ping position.

'7. In a weft replenishing'loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a shuttle to be replenished from a reserve bobbin magazine during forward motion of the lay, a shuttle to stop the loom, a dagger movabiymounted on said handle andnormally in running position, connections between the core and the dagger to move the latter to stopping position when the solenoid is energized, a hunter mounted on and moving forwardly with the lay, means normally to hold the dagger yieldingly out of the path of the hunter, and means to energize the solenoid when the switch is closed, a shuttle protruding from the box too far for proper weft replenishing operation engaging and closing the switch to energize the solenoid and the latter thereupon moving the core to effect movement of the dagger into the path of the bunter during forward motion of the lay, said hunter and latch cooperating to move the handle to stopping position.

8. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a. shuttle provided with a bobbin having spaced rings which are held by the shuttle, adjacent rings being separated by a given distance, a shuttle position detecting feeler normally out of the path of the shuttle and movable into the path of the shuttle preparatory to-a weft replenishing operation to a position closely adjacent to the inner end of the shuttle when the latter is properly boxed, a normally open switch on the shuttle position feeler on the side thereof opposite the shuttle box and having a portion protruding into the path of the shuttle when the shuttle positioned feeler is in detecting position, and electromagnetlcally controlled means to effect loom stoppage when said switch is closed, said switch being spaced from the adjacent end of the'shuttle when the latter is properly boxed by a distance not substantially greater than said given distance between adjacent rings, a shuttlebeing misplaced from normal position by a distance greater than said given distance closing the switch to effect loom stoppage.

9. In a weft replenishing loom operating with alay having a shuttle box containing a shuttle provided with a bobbin having spaced rings which are held by the shuttle, adjacent rings being separated by a given distance, a shuttle position detecting feeler normally out of the path of the shuttle and movable into the path of the shuttle preparatory to a weft replenishing operation to a position closely adjacent to the inner end of the shuttle when the latter is properly boxed, said shuttle positioned feeler. having a, thickness measured in the direction of the length of the lay not substantially in excess of said given distance, a normally open switch on the feeler on the side thereof opposite the shuttle box, and electromagnetically controlled means to stop the loom when the switch is closed, a shuttle protruding from the shuttle box by a distance in excess of said given distance closing the switch to effect loom stoppage.

10. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a shuttle provided with a bobbin having spaced rings which are held by theshuttle, adjacent rings being separated by a given distance, a shuttle position detecting feeler normally out of the path of the shuttle and movable into the path of the shuttle preparatory to a weft replenishing'operationto a position closely adjacent to the inner end of the shuttle when the latter is properly boxed, a normally open electric switch on the .shuttle feeler having a part to project beyond the shuttle feeler into the path of the shuttle at a point not substantially farther from the inner end of the shuttle when the latter is'properly boxed than said given distance when the shuttle feeler is in detecting position, and elec-.

excess of said given distance closing the switchto stop the loom.

' 11. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a reciprocating lay having a. shuttle box contain ing a shuttle to receive a reserve bobbin during a weft replenishing operation of the loom, a shuttle position detecting feeler movable from normal position out of the path of the shuttle to a detecting position into the path of the shutle preparatory to a Weft replenishing operation of the loom and subsequently movable back to normal position by the lay after the weft replenishing operation, an electric switch mounted on the shuttle position feeler, means to cause the switch to be open when the shuttle feeler is in normal position, switch controlling means to maintain the switch open when the shuttle feeler moves to detecting position, said switch having a part projecting beyond the feeler into the path of the shuttle when the shuttle feeler is in detecting position, and electromagnetically 00introlled means to stop the loom when the switch is closed, a shuttle protruding from the shuttle box too far for a proper weft replenishing operation closing the switch to effect loom stoppage during the latter part of the forward motion of the lay,

and said switch controlling means operating to open the switch when the shuttle feeler returns to normal position.

12. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a lay having a shuttle box containing a shuttle to be replenished from a reserve bobbin magazine, a shuttle position detecting feeler normally out of the path of the shuttle and movable into the path of the shuttle preparatory to a weft replenishing operation, the shuttle feeler retuming from detecting to normal position when the lay reaches its front position on a weft replenishing beat of the loom and a weft replenishing operation being prevented when said shuttle positioned feeler is returned to normal position by a widely misplaced shuttle before the lay reaches front position, a normally open electric switch on the shuttle feeler having a portion projecting from said feeler into the path of the shuttle when the shuttle feeler is in detecting position, and electromagnetically controlled loom stopping mechanism to effect loom stoppage when the switch is closed, a widely misplaced shuttle protruding too far from the shuttle box on a weft replenishing beat of the loom for proper transfer closing the electric switch and moving the shuttle feeler to normal position to prevent a weft replenishing operation, and said Switch to be closed by a slightly misplaced shuttle to initiate loom stoppage on the beat of the loom on which weft replenishment is effected.

13. A shuttle position detecting feeler having a shuttle engaging surface of given contour, an electric switch movably mounted on and supported by the shuttle feeler, said electric switch capable of assuming two positions with respect to the feeler in one of which the switch is open and in the other of which the switch is closed, said switch when open having a shuttle engaging sur surface thereof in substantial alignment said given contour of the feeler.

contour when the switch is spaced from said contact, and said switch movable pivotally into engagement with said contact when the shuttle engaging surface thereof is moved in substantial alignment with said given contour.

CLIFFORD DARWIN. 

